A list dubbed the ‘Dirty Dozen’ shames the cities where unhoused people face the most harassment and least support from authorities.

A list compiled by the National Coalition for the Homeless identifies the ‘meanest cities’ in the United States when it comes to how officials treat unhoused people and the resources available to them. The Dirty Dozen list seeks to highlight the harassment and violence that people experiencing homelessness often face at the hands of law enforcement and others.
Each one of the Dirty Dozen cities are regularly harassing those who stay outside and have been engaging in sweeps for over a year. Each one of these cities has a severe lack of affordable housing, including long waiting lists for subsidized housing, while rents and evictions are both on the rise. Every one of these cities has an inability to house everyone requesting assistance, even in emergency congregate facilities.
According to the white paper, “The Dirty Dozen Meanest Cities in the United States is meant to highlight that neglect and hostility towards those without housing is leading to more people dying while homeless in one of the richest countries on the planet.”
With some of the country’s most expensive and scarce housing stock, the country’s largest population of unhoused people, regular law enforcement sweeps of areas like Venice Beach, and a much-publicized closure of Echo Park, Los Angeles tops the list of meanest cities. Three other California cities make the list, as well as New York City, Atlanta, and the nation’s capital.
The paper also notes that some—if only a few—cities “have not engaged in sweeps during the pandemic, but rather have worked hard to house those living outside,” including Pittsburgh, Santa Fe, and Cleveland.
See the source article for the full list, two dishonorable mentions, and how the NCH made its selections.
FULL STORY: DIRTY DOZEN MEANEST CITIES IN THE US

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont